Two ‘probable’ monkeypox cases discovered in Salt Lake County

Monkeypox, a close relative of smallpox, is a rare illness normally found in Central and West Africa, although health officials have reported a recent spike in Europe and North America. Photo: (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC).

SALT LAKE CITY — According to the Salt Lake County Health Department, two Salt Lake County individuals in the same household have been considered probable for monkeypox after preliminary testing and are currently in isolation.

The Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD) announced today that two adults in the same SLCo household are considered probable monkeypox cases based on preliminary testing. Here are the facts: pic.twitter.com/Jd4en3m3K8

— Salt Lake Health (@SaltLakeHealth) May 23, 2022

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The two adults became infected symptomatic after they traveled internationally earlier this month to an area experiencing monkeypox cases.

“Utah’s public health system has not identified any exposure risk to the public due to these probable cases,” officials told KSLTV. “Exposure concern is limited to specifically identified people who had direct, close contact with the infected individuals during their infectious period. SLCoHD and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services are contacting those specifically identified close contacts; we expect to have reached all contacts by the end of the day (Monday).”

Monkeypox, a close relative of smallpox, is a rare illness normally found in Central and West Africa, although health officials have reported a recent spike in Europe and North America.

According to health officials, transmission between humans usually occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids, which includes monkeypox lesions. Transmission can also occur from prolonged face-to-face contact. Usually, individuals show symptoms seven to 14 days after infection, however, it can range from five to 21 days.

“In humans, the symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion and swollen lymph nodes. Infected people develop a rash, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body, that turns into fluid-filled bumps (“pox”). These pox lesions eventually scab over and fall off. The illness typically lasts 2−4 weeks,” health officials told KSLTV.

Due to medical privacy laws, health officials were unable to share detailed information about the two individuals but both are expected to fully recover.

The state expects to receive confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday.